Clyde Albert “Al†Folz, 93, of Evansville, Indiana passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on December 22, 2022.
Al grew up as an only child born to the late Aurelia (Burnhardt) and Albert Folz on June 29, 1929. Although an only child, he was surrounded by his father’s brothers, sisters, and Al’s cousins in Howell, with their houses all next door to each other on Hollywood Avenue. He attended St. Agnes Grade School and was a 1947 Memorial High School graduate. While at St. Agnes, Al was an altar server and boy scout. Al had a lifelong love of music, playing the accordion and drums. During his youth, Al entertained soldiers with his accordion at the L&N Union Depot as service people traveled through the city and the residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged. While at Memorial High School, Al played the drums in the marching band and met the love of his life when he was a senior, June Schmitt, a freshman, at a time when Memorial High School restricted girls to the top floor and young men to the first floor! Growing up on the west side, Al also enjoyed the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, participating in the lighthouse parades, sometimes with his dog, Stubby, and was an active West Side Nut Club member. An aside, later, Al would comment as he drove by his adult children’s homes that one, in particular, was always lit up, ready for the lighthouse parade, and hoped they would do a better job turning off the lights when they left the room.
Al attended IU and Evansville College and married his high school sweetheart on August 12, 1950, and they enjoyed 72 years of marriage together. After Al’s career at the Chrysler plant, Al and June began their working lives together and continued as entrepreneurs and community volunteers. They owned an antique furniture store, Folz Realty real estate company, The Carousel and ABC beauty salons, and Folz Travel. Al enjoyed local politics, serving for 18 years as the Knight Township Assessor and running as the Republican candidate for Mayor of Evansville in 1987. He also helped residents with property tax questions far beyond his time as a civil servant. He was most proud of June’s appointment to the Airport Board and enjoyed the discussions following some of the planning meetings. Al looked forward to meeting people and offering encouragement and lively conversations. He enjoyed his rose garden and reading fiction when he had a moment to himself. He was an excellent storyteller and could keep a car full of passengers entertained by his retelling of a recent novel.
Al left a lifetime of wonderful and sometimes very funny memories that we will never forget. His son’s electrifying search for worms in the backyard, the polite children at a Florida restaurant passing their dad an orange juice glass with melted butter, the field burnout, Christmas Eve drives around town, pig roasts, the best BBQ ribs and chicken in the world, shelling on the beach, cranking homemade ice cream, and hundreds more. Fishing was a talent he developed while raising his six children, which was no easy feat. He passed his mastery of fishing off the banks in Florida, local lakes, and rivers onto his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and he enjoyed hearing their stories, questioning the choice of bait, and zooming in on their catch photos.
Education was important to him, and he actively participated in his grandchildren’s pursuit of university choices, college move-in and move-out days, the on-campus graduation celebrations, and the stories that followed along with updates on their careers. Al was a tennis player and later a tennis spectator as he watched and commented on his wife’s winning matches. No matter how long he was away from the court, he amazingly would always win the game.
Al’s late onset of Parkinson’s limited his mobility and set the family in action. Greg and Randy added enough pull bars throughout their house on Trinity to open a small hardware store, helping to keep Al independent and mobile. Ramps installed by Jim, kept Al in his home and on his way to his appointments that included swimming at the Easter Seals pool, where his freestyle amazed his therapists, June, and his children. Steven would show up any time of day to give his dad a lift after a tumble and get the TV remote on sync with his viewing. After eating his nightly peanut butter, butter, and no-sugar jelly on toast along with a glass of milk, evenings spent at home centered around westerns and discussions on the actors’ rise to stardom after a western appearance and searching the “net†for the rest of the story.
Al spent his final years in the homes of his loving daughters, Gail Shetler and Christie Hargis, and their families who worked tirelessly to give and oversee their father’s excellent care. Al was specially blessed with the loving care of his caregivers. There were thousands of acts of kindness extended to Al and his family. We thank you one and all.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Aurelia Folz; his daughter, Becky Rose; his grandson, Douglas Randall Sauer; son-in-law, Randy Sauer; granddaughter, Angela Christine Shetler; and great-granddaughter, Ava Kathleen Clark.
Al is survived by his loving wife, June Folz (Schmitt); children, Angela M. Sauer, Gail A. Shetler (Tom), Gregory A. Folz (Ann Lattner), Randal L. Folz (Diane Hendry), Christie R. Hargis (Jay), and Steven R. Folz (Nancy Flittner); grandchildren, Becky Clark (John), Natalie Pickerill (Jason), Alisann Elpers (Justin), John Shetler, Martha Frounfelter (Tyler), Mary Shetler, Thomas Shetler III. (Madeline Wigand), Amelia Wawrin (Stephen), Robert Sauer (Marlena Justak), Katherine Sauer, Nicholas A. Folz (Keri Horn), Gregory John Folz (Erin Snodgrass), Eleanor E. Folz, Christopher M. Folz (Ali Whetstine), Joseph Folz (Emily Schmidt), Jennifer Meyer (Drew), Jaymie Fadorsen (Ryan), William Hargis, Helen Hargis, Laurie Hargis, Andrew Hargis, Cecilia Hargis, Jack Folz, Steven Folz, and Lauren Folz. Great-grandchildren: Isabella T. Sauer, Alexander O. Wawrin, Maxwell R. Wawrin, Sydney E. Wawrin, Randall O. Sauer, Gianna T. Sauer, Aiden W. Folz, Adelyn E. Folz, Graham A. Folz, Emery M. Folz, Brycen G. Folz, Elaina J. Folz, Luke C. Folz, John H. Folz, Mark G. Folz, Riley M. Folz, Henry A. Folz, Jacob Folz, Lucas Folz, Camryn Rose Fadorsen,
Emma R. Clark, Anne M. Clark, Maggie R. Clark, Lily J. Clark, Eli P. Clark, Cole T. Clark, Addie K. Clark, Christian T. Pickerill, Jaxson K. Pickerill, Lucas A. Pickerill, Elijah J. Pickerill, Sawyer G. Pickerill, James O. Elpers, Patrick S. Elpers, Charlie J. Elpers, Anni J. Elpers, Zachariah J. Elpers,
Louis M. Elpers, Baby Boy Elpers (due in April), Kyleigh A. Shetler, John F. Shetler, Jr., Daniel J. Frounfelter, Reid O. Frounfelter, Isaac P. Frounfelter, and Claire J. Frounfelter.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777, Memorial High School, 1500 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana, 47714 or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Box 37920, Boone, IA 50037-0920.
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